Eurovision fans are dying to plan their trips to Eurovision 2016 in Sweden and are eagerly awaiting SVT’s announcement about next year’s host city. In our mind, only three cities — Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö — have the facilities and infrastructure to host one of the biggest events in the world. But Martin Österdahl, the executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, has revealed to Sweden’s 8 to 5 that a number of cities are interested in hosting, and that SVT will consider them all before revealing its choice by the end of August. The bookies at UNIBET don’t seem to buy that there is actually a race on. They’ve revealed their first set of odds for which city is most likely to host, and the obvious contenders — most notably Stockholm — lead the way. Let’s take them in turn…
1. Stockholm
Odds: 1.15
At the moment, the oddsmakers at UNIBET have the Swedish capital Stockholm down as the odds-on favourite to host at 1.15. As we’ve already discussed, the capital has three venues that seem like likely candidates — Globen, Friends Arena and Tele2 Arena. Nightlife, restaurants, hotels….the ABBA Museum — the city has what it takes to keep tens of thousands of visitors entertained during their time at Eurovision.
2. Gothenburg
Odds: 4.75
In second place we have Göteborg — that’s Gothenburg to all us foreigners — which is the only one of the three biggest Swedish cities that has only hosted Eurovision one time. With odds of 4.75, it still has a chance to bring the contest to the Scandinavium, where is regularly hosts heats of Melodifestivalen. In recent years the international media have raved about the city and, more generally, the West Coast of Sweden, describing it as a destination in its own right (and not merely an after-thought of Stockholm). Journalists praise its world-class seafood, gorgeous archipeligos and activities like sailing and kayaking. Could Eurovision 2016 be the city’s time to shine?
3. Malmö
Odds: 16.00
The bookies’ third-favourite city to host is Malmö, which is still fresh in our minds from the 2013 contest. We are not yet convinced that SVT would want to showcase Malmö again so soon. But Österdahl praised the city repeatedly in his interview with 8 to 5. “Given how good it was the last time in Malmö, it is obvious that we are happy for a new discussion with Malmö,” he said.
4. Others
Odds: 31.00
You can also place a bid on “others”, which currently has odds of 31.00. Several other cities have small venues that have, over the years, hosted Melodifestivalen. They include Östersund, Örebro, Helsingborg, Lidköping and Örnskoldsvik. If you can say that list three times fast you deserve to get your stake back at a rate of 31 to 1!
“Given how good it was the last time in Malmö, it is obvious that we are happy for a new discussion with Malmö,” —>>> Stop lying. It was NOT good in Malmo back in 2013. That’s Sweden won in order to fix their problematic show and give us a spectacular and big show next year
@Darren: I don’t how you are able to judge on the infrastructure of Austrian cities other than Vienna? Just to make one point clear, Graz would have had a bigger venue and Innsbruck had actually the best bid of all. Innsbruck and the surrounding area has more available beds than Vienna. It was ORF CEO Wrabetz who decided to choose Vienna for political reasons. It was not a bad choice, but it is unfair to judge other cities of being incapable of hosting ESC. Furthermore the City of Salzburg did not even enter the race because of snobism (ESC does… Read more »
It should be in Stockholm.
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Malmö is a no go, they pulled out of the race on May 24
I want Gothenburg! I’m planning on getting the train as I hate flying so it’ll be nearer for me!
Tele2 arena really looks like the best option
Gothenburg will host, its next in line. Stockholm 2000, Malmö 2013. =O Idkw but I’d like to see it in Friendsarena, they should make it as big as a our national finals with ~38k attenders 😀
Goteburg. This way people will still want Stockholm and would vote again for Sweden the soonest possible be it 1 year or 20.
It’ll definitely be either Stockholm or Gothenburg. I hope Stockholm is chosen but I still have that feeling it’ll be Gothenburg, which honestly isn’t as much as a bad thing as people may think.
I really want Stockholm to host the next Eurovision, it makes sense. I hate when countries want to host Eurovision in lesser known or smaller cities. Right, it would probably bring a lot of global attention to a city that would probably not normally have it (who heard of Malmo outside of Eurovision?) but, just like Austria this year, the capital..or the largest city makes better sense. In Austria, the only possible host city was Vienna, all the others didnt have the best infrastructure, in Denmark, Copenhagen was the only logical host city and the same for Sweden. If the… Read more »
The Tele2 Arena has a capacity of 45.000
The Friends Arena has a capacity of 65.000
The #1 record of attendance in our Vision is from Copenhagen 2001 that 38.000 audience watched that EuroVision..
If the Swedes want this record to go broken then they should host the 61st EuroVision to one of these stadiums.. 🙂
My personal pick is the Friends Arena 4 hosting the 2016 Vision..
& Malmo’s Arena 4 hosting the final of 2016 Melodifestivalen..
Well if Tele2 Arena wins the bid to host the Vision then with the same sceptic the final of Melodifestivalken should be given to Malmo & not to Goteborg..
As it might be my first Eurovision seeing live, I would prefer Stockholm. Moreover, the city is believed to have more to offer to the tourists. It is a lovely historical place. And of course during my first visit to Sweden, the capital would be a compulsory spot. On the other hand, now that last two times were Stockholm and Malmo, it is Gothenburg’s turn. Let’s see. I don’t know if Eurovision in Sweden will be cheaper in comparison to Italy, but undoubtedly it will be closer 😉
If Stockholm (Tele 2 Arena most likely) is selected to host Eurovision, I would like to see Gothenburg host the final of Melodifestivalen 2016 so that the year would not be too Stockholm-centric (it would be like in 2000 when Stockholm hosted Eurovision and Gothenburg hosted Melodifestivalen) and the city would get some truly major part of the Eurovision craze. This would be the first time since 2002 that the final is held outside of Stockholm; after 14 years it would be nice to see something different.
**Countdown**
351 Days To Go 4 The 61st EuroVision! <3 😀
Stockholm all the way! If it’s Stockholm I’m definitely flying to Sweden next year.
I guess that the swedish compocers producers are already in the process of making the songs of the upcoming Melodifestivalen 2016.. 🙂 I believe that they were already making them last year in 2014 that the deadline had passed and their songs either were unfinished or they had not been inspired to create the desired perfect great songs.. In the upcoming months when the summer gets over almost all of the songs will have get finished i guess.. 🙂 Maybe they had some songs in the closet that 4 reasons they did not use from 2013 & Malmo’s Vision 🙂… Read more »
Only Gothenburg don t host two times Eurovision in Sweden .
I would like to have Stockholm as a hostcity. It is the most known city, so it would be perfect.
Well i had read that Malmo has already witrhdrawn from its bid to host the upcoming Vision 2016.. Yeah…It would be too early 4 the same town & the same arena to host our Vision again after only 3 years.. But i can see Malmo hosting one of the 4 SFs or the andra chansen of the upcomng Melodifestivalen 2016.. Our 61st Vision will most likely get hosted by Tele2 Arena i guess.. And the finalen of Melodifestivalen 2016 that will elect Sweden’s home representative in home Vision will go to the Stockholm’s Friends Arena i guess.. Goteborg should given… Read more »
I’d love to see Gothenburg host it – Stockholm and Malmo have done it twice so let’s even the score. 😛
But Stockholm would be beautiful too so let’s see what happens!